Almost 80,000 People Sign UK Online Petition Calling for Israeli PM’s Arrest

The petition for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached almost 80,000 signatures.

The online petition went viral on August 7 and demanded the apprehension of Israel’s Likud party chairman upon arrival in London, the Yournewswire reported.

Petitions that garner more than 100,000 signatures are considered for debate in parliament.

Referring to Netanyahu’s scheduled September visit, the petition requested “Under international law, he should be arrested for war crimes upon arrival in the UK for the massacre of over 2,000 civilians in 2014”

Regardless of the petition, the British Government has issued an official statement saying that Netanyahu is immune from arrest.

“Under UK and international law, visiting heads of foreign governments, such as Netanyahu, have immunity from legal process, and cannot be arrested or detained,” the statement said.

The statement added that the British Government has invited Netanyahu to visit the UK in September. Under UK and international law, certain holders of high-ranking office in a State, including Heads of State, Heads of Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs are entitled to immunity, which includes inviolability and complete immunity from criminal jurisdiction.